According to the report, crimes against humanity have been, and are being committed in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, under policies established at the highest level of the state.

These horrific crimes include "extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions and other sexual violence, persecution on political, religious, racial and gender grounds, the forcible transfer of populations, the enforced disappearance of persons and the inhumane act of knowingly causing prolonged starvation."

Its description of North Korea's "kwanliso" political prison camp system is particularly appalling.

According to the report, hundreds of thousands of political prisoners have perished over the past five decades. "Unspeakable atrocities" take place in these camps, which "resemble the horrors of camps that totalitarian states established during the twentieth century."

Delivering the report, Kirby reminded the international community of its obligations, stating:

At the end of the Second World War so many people said "if only we had known ... if only we had known the wrongs that were done in the countries of the hostile forces". Well, now the international community does know ... There will be no excusing of failure of action because we didn't know. Too many times ... there are reports and no action. Well, this is a time for action.

Not surprisingly North Korean state media responded with a ranting statement that claimed the report was "peppered with fabrications", and included homophobic slurs against Kirby.

We know the reality of the North Korean system, and, in knowing, the international community, including Australia, bears a moral responsibility to act.

Therefore it was dismaying to see in a Lateline report earlier this month that a British Virgin Islands-based private equity firm, SRE Minerals, recently signed a joint venture with the regime-run Korea Natural Resources Trading Corporation to develop a North Korean mining operation for the next 25 years.

The project's lead scientist and director of operators is Dr Louis Schurmann, a Brisbane-based geologist and fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Further, Dr Schurmann is also a director of Australian Stock Exchange-listed EHG Corporation, which last year announced it had acquired a sub-licence "to mine, process, extract and sell all minerals from the North Hwanghae province" in the closed communist state.

Most importantly, SRE Minerals will be able to exploit one of the world's largest deposits of"rare earths" minerals at Jongju, north of the capital Pyongyang. That site was surveyed by Salva Resources, a company that at the time was owned by Brisbane mining executive Lachlan Broadfoot, and has been estimated to contain more than 200 million tonnes of rare earths, making it one of the world's largest such deposits.

To maintain its iron-fisted hold over the North Korean population, the Pyongyang regime needs hard currency, and it is clear that these projects could provide billions of dollars to the North Korean leadership.

As North Korea experts have argued, these projects could not have been approved without the upper echelons of the regime allowing it - or without them taking a cut. In the words of North Korea watcher Ken Kato:

Rare earths and other mineral resources don't go to the North Korean people ... The people starve.

So while one Australian, Michael Kirby, has recently exposed - for all the world to see - the atrocities being committed by the North Korean regime, we have other Australia-based individuals, and Australian listed companies working on North Korean projects that are likely to benefit the ultimate perpetrators of those atrocities on the North Korean people.

Last week, the Pyongyang regime announced that it would be undertaking its own human rights report that would "show the true picture of the people of the DPRK dynamically advancing toward a brighter and rosy future while enjoying a free and happy life under the socialist system centered on the popular masses."

The UN General Assembly reconvenes in September and is likely to discuss and vote on a resolution reaffirming the findings of the report by Justice Kirby. According to human rights advocates the purpose of Pyongyang's report is to influence some of the non-aligned countries that might waver on stronger condemnatory language in the General Assembly.

While it may seem absurd that anyone would take Pyongyang's protestations seriously, it almost appears that Dr Louis Schurmann buys into Pyongyang's newspeak. In an email to a human rights activist he wrote:

Have you ever thought that doomsday prophets like you cause most of the problems? What we are doing is making a difference. A positive one.

Australia, as a current member of the Security Council, and because of Justice Kirby's role, should be taking a leading role in pushing for new measures to impel the North Korean regime to improve its human rights record. But the actions of Australian listed companies, and Australia-based individuals are undermining our position.

How serious is Australia about human rights, when we do nothing to prevent Australian involvement in projects potentially worth billions to the North Korean regime? At the General Assembly, some countries may ask why they should take Justice Kirby's report seriously, when his countrymen are making millions from mining licences in North Korea.

Will the Abbott Government's obsession with appeasing mining industry interests extend to looking the other way on deals that benefit the world's most brutal and oppressive regime?

I hope not. In Justice Kirby's words: "This is a time for action".

Michael Kirby will be appearing before the Australian Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade, in relation to the report on North Korea in October.

Michael Danby MP is the shadow Parliamentary Secretary the Leader of the Opposition. In 2009, in co-operation with the South Korea-based Citizens Alliance for Human Rights in Korea, he organised a conference in Melbourne on human rights in North Korea. View his full profile here.

Comments (110)

struck dumb:

20 Aug 2014 4:50:46pm

Money has no conscience; it serves one purpose, to create more and regardless of how its been made, its impossible to tell the difference between dirty money made at the expense of the North Korean population, or money made by screwing over the working population of the US. We may pay lip service to the abuse of human rights, but look at what we are trying to do here to our own citizens; does anyone seriously think our government will take any action, unless their political future depends on it or it offends one of their backers?

John Coochey :

20 Aug 2014 5:47:23pm

I wonder what Michael's position would be concerning human rights in occupied Palestine which has been under military rule since 1967? Israel has refused to either withdraw from the occupied territories or to grant the inhabitants full voting rights which they would be entitled to if citizens. Israel can be a Jewish state in its current boundaries or it can be a democratic state, it cannot be both!

Zing:

20 Aug 2014 6:27:20pm

A state doesn't stop being democratic merely because it occupies another hostile state's territory.

Israel occupies the territory because it was confiscated from hostile parties during a war. In normal cases, an occupation continues until a peace agreement is reached or the occupied territory ceases to be hostile.

The Jones Crusher:

20 Aug 2014 6:44:28pm

"Israel occupies the territory because it was confiscated from hostile parties during a war."

They started out with confiscated territory and keep on keeping on. The reason the USA failed in Iraq is because every Arab in the region believed that the US invasion was simply the first step in a process of further confiscation.

Zing:

Mitor the Bold:

20 Aug 2014 7:17:16pm

"The reason the USA failed in Iraq is for a simple reason:"

Because they didn't understand what success looked like. The situation in Iraq is largely the consequence of the absence of Saddam. It's pretty much why we sponsored him back in the day. IS or some other rabid Islamist outfit is what constitutes 'success' in Iraq. Just because we don't like it is not the point.

Bush thought you could substitute Jesus for Saddam, or the idea of 'democracy' (which, as we all know, is nothing of the sort and which Iraqis discovered when they 'voted' for Maliki). Iraqis are not killing Iraqis any more than Europeans were killing Europeans in Bosnia - they don't identify as Iraqis so much as they identify with their tribe or religion or whatever. Iraq is an idea made up by the postwar allies. Ideas like 'Egypt', 'Libya' and 'Syria' are similarly under pressure from people who recognise and identify with no such grouping.

The reason the USA failed in Iraq is for a simple reason: there existed no other possible outcome (other than Saddam winning easily).

Fidanza:

"While we hoped that popular revolt or coup would topple Saddam, neither the U.S. nor the countries of the region wished to see the breakup of the Iraqi state. We were concerned about the long-term balance of power at the head of the Gulf."

Zing:

21 Aug 2014 11:54:06am

"Because they didn't understand what success looked like."

I'd say it's their critics who failed to understand what success looked like.

What would success involve? Indefinite occupation? Democratic Iraq? A world in which militant organisations like ISIL never spring up? A world in which no lunatic can detonate a bomb in a marketplace? Or perhaps success was measured in how much Iraqi oil could be cheaply exported to America?

Maybe I'll correct my post. America lost the war for a simple reason: It waged the war, but it allowed it's critics to set the goal posts. When your critics decide what constitutes success, failure is the only possible outcome.

Rabbithole:

21 Aug 2014 8:33:36am

Wrong ZING,

The USA lost because they can't win. It was an invasion with no UN sanctions. That is a war crime in most peoples book.

They ran out of money and sent there country broke, thats why they lost and can't win a fight. Thats is why their own people are revolting against the US gov. They are going to self destruct as they are in perpetual debt. China and Russia are no doubt looking on laughing at this warmongers who can't win. They lost Vietnam, Somalia, Iraq x 2, Afghanistan etc How much money have they wasted and how much money did the corporations make from owning the pollies who pick unwinable fights?

John Coochey:

21 Aug 2014 6:52:58am

So do the Palestinians in Israel get the vote or not because if they do not it is occupied territory and not part of Israel, Interesting General Glubb published part of his memoires including a map of Israel which had bee distributed on El Al the Israeli airline. It showed the boundaries of Israel to include the West Bank not taken until 1967. Glubb's book was pulished in the fifties!

Wining Pom:

Snufkin:

20 Aug 2014 8:01:37pm

Exactly WP. Only a fool would believe the gross social inequalities in some western nations or the situation in Israel are somehow equivalent to the Orwellian North Korean state. "A jackboot stamping on a human face. Forever."All things must pass. One day it has to end, but I don't know how. China may be the key.Have a good one.

Michael Danby:

21 Aug 2014 1:07:45am

Thanks my Pommie mateA recurring sub-theme in nearly everything I post on a variety of issues in which I have an interest @ expertise is precisely the phenomena you identifiedI am Jewish.proud of it & the contribution to learning & culture that is our contribution to the planet.But some people can see nothing else.It eats away at their soul.Reflects on them ,doesn't deter me.A more thoughtful observer might say Michael Danby feels a special responsibility with these Nth Korean concentration camps.It is said ofthe genocide that enveloped my grandparents few people knew the details ,such as the existence of the camps.I want no one to say I knew about the savage abuses documented by our learned judge but that I did nothing....

percy:

Filz:

21 Aug 2014 9:45:10am

Michael - I could not care less whether you are Jewish, Calathumpian, Muslim or a Spaghetti Monster adherent. The (off topic) comments re Israel or the IDF have more to do with Zionism than one's religion.

However, to address the points in your article. As many posters have and will point out, this is about "business". If an Australian wasn't involved, it would be someone else. Business and politics should not be mixed, but inevitably they are. It can also be argued that conducting business with something like the North Korean regime may open doors that were previously shut. What business giveth, business can take away - as in sanctions imposed by governments. There are sorts of justifications for doing business with rogue regimes - the Bush family in the USA did deals with Nazi Germany and more recently, with members of the bin Laden family.

Someone will always jump in to seize an opportunity.

On the question of what do we do about North Korea, that is a much harder question. China is obviously a key. Perhaps send Clive Palmer as an ambassador? Seriously though, China has to realise that it's propping up a pariah but what choice does it have? If the two Koreas ever reunify, China will have a US ally on its border and that it unlikely to occur in my lifetime, for a number of reasons.

So isolation of North Korea appears to be the least expensive, least dangerous and certainly the easiest option. Trouble is, what can you do for the North Korean people? They are the victims.

John Coochey :

21 Aug 2014 5:34:00pm

So instead of playing the racial victim card (what about the twenty six million Soviets slaughtered in what we have been taught to all the "holocaust") how do yo view the planned subjugation of the Palestinians by Israel?

james g:

21 Aug 2014 10:58:27am

Why do people change the subject? It's the DPRK John, NOT Palestine! Give it a break!$$$ and growth is the utopia for our economically driven society. We don't care about this problem in DPRK because we can't see it first hand.Yet another example of capitalism doing good for all.NOT.

A pocketful of wry:

20 Aug 2014 5:01:36pm

On multiple levels this looks like a scenario tailor-made for Clive Palmer.

Those busy yelling at him in the press yesterday and today may have lunged out of the starting stalls in their haste a moment too soon. A successful nation always knows how to use its available resources wisely.

OUB :

20 Aug 2014 6:35:51pm

Kim Jong Un. Clive Palmer. Sumo suits. Now. Name your ticket price. There will be no losers in the viewing and non-viewing public. All proceeds to go to famine relief in North Korea. I'll take 10% of your 10%.

Back in the days of South African apartheid trade with such nations was justified on the premise that it would draw those countries "into the fold" and improve the lives of those being oppressed. Why can't that logic be used in the case of the DPRK?

whogoesthere:

20 Aug 2014 10:24:00pm

That, unfortunately, is just not going to happen for many reasons we are all aware of. And yes it is hypocritical.

But I still think doing something to help some people is better than doing nothing and helping nobody. Sometimes pragmatism is better then lofty principles. If we could (not saying we can) do something to stop the North Koreans committing these horific crimes against it's citizens, I'd say do it, and would wear the tag of hypocrite, no problem.

And at the same time also demand better of our own Government and that of our masters in the USA. I don't have any better ideas than that.

Shane 2:

20 Aug 2014 11:06:28pm

Ridiculous. Far better to do nothing about anything than alienate large numbers of countries. Alienating other countries just makes things worse for Australians. Maybe you don't give a rats about Australians because you are not Australian.

whogoesthere:

oh- owe:

21 Aug 2014 8:18:39am

Tolerating abuse by our own nation undermines our claims of rightousness You can not incarcerate, or worse still bomb, innocent children, and feign concern for rights. It is distractionary politics and applied most effectively by the most psychopathic. If we're looking over there at what "they" are doing, we are not looking here.

PS. Danby's "strong support of Israel", is a relevant factor in this discussion, even if he supports the two-state solution.

aGuy:

20 Aug 2014 6:46:53pm

Lol, you have a selective memoryUSA - Still the largest aid donor and permanent refugee acceptor in the world. It deserves some praise for that. Israel - No criticism of Hamas or other terrorist groups that use human shields?China - Not nice, yet hard to say worse than many corrupt Asian nations including Russia. Both Russia and China maintain territories by force. Yet both are certainly better than North Korea.Saudi Arabia - Almost every African and Middle eastern nation has what you would call cruel and unusual punishments. In many places a combination of genital mutilation, restriction of women (including education and freedom of movement), public beatings (and worse), high corruption and religious dogma including witch doctors continue.

In comparison, Australia deliberately kills none of its citizens and does not ask anyone who seeks refuge to arrive here. We are much like most of Europe in that regard. Unlike Europe however we resettle more refugees permanently on a per capita and on a total basis. If you are critizing Australia's approach when drowning have once against stopped, think about the thousands of deaths in the Mediterranean that a refsal to turn back boats has caused. European soft policy has taken many to watery graves. So many that no attempt is made on many occasions to retrieve bodies.

Caffettierra Moka:

20 Aug 2014 8:10:26pm

The US never pays its dues to the United Nations*. Actually, the US spends more destabilising and marginalising the UN than anyone else. When Bush sent John Bolton as ambassador, he spent the entire time telling the US that the UN was coming to disarm them. His actual words on the body:"There's no such thing as the United Nations. If the U.N. secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference"

*for real, a private CITIZEN (Ted Turner) once paid the amount owing as they newly installed Bush Regime was too busy plotting how to steal Iraq's oil to give a damn

Caffettierra Moka:

20 Aug 2014 8:14:47pm

And that 'we settle more' is a lie. My partner comes from Finland and they settle more refugees for their own population more than any other. And Yemen which has a population the same as Australia has nearly a million refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people within it. This country does jack except whine ala Pauline Hanson.

QC Bob:

You talk of moral corruption. Society's corruption. Australia may hold a higher moral ground but we have not yet attained the pinnacle and are in fact slipping down the slope, going backwards.

If you want to talk about fiscal exploitation type corruption then Australia leads the world. This mining deal with Nth Korea, selling ports and airports, bugging a room in Timore to gain advantage in negotiations, property deals and historically things like selling wheat to an embargoed Iraq.These corrupt actions were done for the almighty dollar. We are good at that type of corruptness.

The best way to fight all of these type of human corrupt behaviour is to lead by example, as the US of A did last century. Finger wagging when you are no angel yourself doesn't really go down too well or work.

James Murphy:

21 Aug 2014 12:07:13am

Not including Australia for its treatment of the indigenous population? Strange...

Also, not including Palestine for its collective treatment of Israel? Afterall, they are far from innocent, despite what you might wish to think. Unless of course, you think that body count is the definitive yard-stick?

So where does one draw the line exactly? what qualifies, and what doesn't? I notice that you think West Papua doesn't rate a mention, and nor does the Central African Republic... You left off Malaysia too, because if you're not a muslim there, you might as well not exist. India too, for its caste system which still prevails in country areas. Ecuador for its lack of free speech. Libya for its cruel and unusual punishments for petty crimes... Zimbabwe, Chad, Sierra Leone, Liberia... etc etc...

From what I can tell, the list would be really quite long, and not just restricted to a few examples chosen to suit your political bias.

malb:

Alpo:

20 Aug 2014 5:06:18pm

It will be impossible to address the humanitarian disaster unfolding in North Korea without the full participation, if not leadership of China. The Chinese are also directly suffering from the situation in North Korea, as many people cross the border into China seeking to escape the North Korean Hell on Earth, becoming refugees.

But to get China on board, we have to adopt a more diplomatic and conciliatory stance. We won't be able to bully China into putting pressure against the North Koreans... that's just not possible.

Chrism:

20 Aug 2014 5:11:21pm

It is a very crude moral calculus Danby uses in this article. The regime of X is bad so anything to do with X is bad. It is the same simple moral posturing that is behind calls to boycott a seminar because one person at the seminar might say something that most people don't approve of. It is even thinner than the moralising sentimentality behind the BDS movement against Israel.

It is not enough to vaguely suggest that this venture would help cement the appalling regime in North Korea. You need to provide clear evidence and reasoned argument that this is so. The statement that the people of North Korea will see no benefit is also provided with no evidence. Economic activity almost always benefits the people in some way so you have to provide evidence.

There is a clear benefit to the result of the world in expanding the sources of rare earths. New technology that helps fights climate change is often dependent on these minerals. Also new sources helps break down China's strategic stranglehold on this area.

Unless you can demonstrate that these benefits can only be bought at the expense of greater misery for North Koreans, you call is mere moral posturing.

Mulky:

20 Aug 2014 7:37:47pm

How is economic activity going to benefit the serf-class of Nth Korea exactly? All of a sudden they are going to be paid the big bucks, get access to external news via computers and internet connections they can now afford and then overthrow the regime?

More likely citizens will be 'asked' to work by their Dear Leader and in return fed rather and if not killed or tortured for their insolence.

Dove:

Grumpy:

20 Aug 2014 5:18:36pm

A country that is stockpiling weapons of mass destruction and supports terrorism. This calls for a Coalition of the Willing to go and invade this country and depose a regime that is murdering its citizens and suppressing human rights. It worked well in Iraq. Oh but they time that was over the Weapons of Mass Destruction couldnt be found so it became the War on Terrorism.

Now North Korea with an established nuclear weapons program AND the ability to deliver those weapons with missiles AND supporting teorrorism AND supressing human rights remains unmolested. Why?

Could oil be a consideration? Or as the article says there is money to be made out of not going to war with North Korea or is it that the North Koreans along with the support of China makes such a conflict unwinnable?

There was money to be made in the Iraq invasion and the reconstruction afterward. I doubt that even if tanks were rolling into Seoul the west would not dither over its response.

Michael:

20 Aug 2014 5:26:52pm

Regime change might be good or might be bad. Regime change hasn't worked so well in Iraq. Best do business with the North Koreans and negotiate diplomatically for change. Those concerned about human rights but how could the in a communist country really especially the ones who hold Stalin and or Mao in high regard ycould also start Facebook or Twitter campaigns demanding change, they always seem to do well at least it makes people feel better. The North Koreans could actually be worse off if during the Korean War the Americans had managed to hold the North. If that had happened the North Koreans would have been subjected to the evils of capitalism and have been taken advantage of which is far worse than living in a workers paradise that communism is. Of course many will say that North Korea isn't a communist regime but can't identify a better one. Maybe Cambodia and Pol Pot would appeal to many from the left who would like the idea of returning to a simple life working on farms together in harmony with nature with the odd murder here or there of those who don't agree.

Not again:

Michael:

20 Aug 2014 7:24:06pm

North Korea is defiantly a communist country. Just like Russia and Cambodia were and just like China is. Stop living in denial about the worst political system this world has seen. The human rights abuses are the standard communist ideals of control, murder of those who don't do as they are told or might not do as they are told, gulags and a life of luxury for those who are the ruling class. Of course communists deny any country ever was a true communist country because communism results in countries like North Korea, Russia, China and Cambodia with Pol Pot and millions of deaths.

Alpo:

20 Aug 2014 11:03:32pm

"the worst political system this world has seen".... I think that Communism is in the company of other systems for the "privilege" of being the worst: Nazism springs ready to mind, but also Absolutist Monarchies expanding into Colonialist Empires... let not rabid anti-communism obfuscate your mind, please.

Oh, by the way, did you know that the American bombing over Cambodia during the Vietnam War produced more deaths than the Pol Pot regime?... Shocking, isn't it?

MDG:

21 Aug 2014 10:46:17am

Although it should be noted that the Nazi total would have been much, much higher had they not been opposed and defeated. Had the Nazi program been fully implemented, it would have led to the entire Slavic population being wiped out to say nothing of the fate in store for the Jewish and Roma peoples. Mass slaughter was an inevitable consequence of Stalinism and Maoism, but only Nazism had aggressive, expansionist genocide built into it from the start.

Gordon:

20 Aug 2014 11:09:09pm

Let me guess. It's never been tried properly. Is that the theory? How many more millions would have made the experiment thorough enough for you? Go ask a few Poles or Romanians or Red guard victims if they felt their oppressors were holding back a little.

Stanyanstreet:

20 Aug 2014 6:15:42pm

How serious is Australia about human rights? Danby asks in relation to North Korea.How serious we might ask, is Australia about human rights a little closer to home, take for example our refugee policy or "Sovereign Borders" as it is known. Our treatment of those arriving by sea seeking refuge has been roundly condemned by humanitarian bodies including the United nations.Whilst I agree entirely with Justice Kirby's report and his reminder of our obligations, if Australia cannot and will not treat refugees arriving on our shores by boat I see little hope that Australia will join any international action against North Korea.I love my country but I am continually shamed by the actions of successive governments of both persuasions in their treatment of refugees arriving on our shores.If we are to join in action and condemnation of the North Korean regime we should ensure our own house is in good order first.

aGuy:

20 Aug 2014 6:51:34pm

Stanyanstreet, I agree to look at our refugee policy.

We have managed to stop hundreds of drownings a year. We have also managed to free up places from people we are certain are freeing war. Yet there are members of the public that want to stop both of these to advantage people who have the funds to pay criminal syndicates instead. Their refusal to admit responsibility for drownings and willingness to accept the flimsiest of cases stated in order to migrate for financial reasons over those with impeding certain danger is reprehensible.

Australia is struggling with its morals and scarily may return to the dark days of the watery grave along side criminal profits.

The Jones Crusher:

aGuy:

20 Aug 2014 9:20:43pm

Divide and conquer still your strategy Jones?

When facts fail, character assassinations works well as a substitute. Grow up and learn to argue your case why polices that lead to more deaths and less certainty of danger for refugees that are accepted whilst profiting criminal networks and the rich are justified.

Please stop promoting a morally bankrupt policy when those unaware of 10% certainty requirements, effects of criminal networks, sexist and elitist selection, hundreds of deaths per year and seizure of spots from people in more desperate situations. I am afraid we will return to an Australian policy of mass death and mass fraud whilst you and others think we are being kind.

Luke:

James Murphy:

21 Aug 2014 12:22:32am

So you have no problems with the way indigenous Australians have been treated by successive Australian governments of both persuasions?

Why do you only focus on asylum seekers?

As it happens, refugees are treated well in Australia, given that asylum seekers are not refugees until they are deemed to be as such by the government... but don't let semantics get in the way of an anti-Liberal spiel, sorry.

rankmore3:

20 Aug 2014 6:42:12pm

I holidayed in the DPRK for a week in April this year with my wife and 18 month old daughter. I came to the following conclusions:

1. The DPRK government is the source of much misinformation about the West.2. The Western media is the source of much misinformation about the DPRK.3. Regime change in DPRK is about as likely as a Muslim replacing Allah with Ganesh - the aptness of that analogy would be obvious to anyone who has witnessed the deification of Kim Il Sung in the DPRK.4. Engagement is the key.

firthy:

20 Aug 2014 6:53:42pm

Fair call - the government should simply outlaw this type of investment. One cannot expect the corporate world to have sufficient morals in this regard. After all they are not paid to have morals (I don't say that to excuse such behaviour BTW).

Victor:

20 Aug 2014 6:58:50pm

If I owned a shop and asked everyone who came in what their politics were before selling them something, I would probably go broke. Similarly, I don't pay too much attention to the family politics exercised by friends and acquaintances.

As long as it doesn't impinge on the business that we are doing and they don't find some way to screw us with their politics, then leave the moral judgements to someone else. Morality, justice, ethics even logic are all impacted on by culture and westeners are often seen as arrogant in trying to impose their brand of morality on others .

I suppose it's a bit like a barman refusing to serve a customer because he might get a skinful and go home and beat up his wife.

Leave the high moral ground alone, lest someone cuts the ground from under your feet.

aGuy:

20 Aug 2014 9:23:57pm

Good point. How far should the selection of personal politics go. If someone is promoting the peaceful political belief that all whatevers should be deported is it appropriate to refuse them service?If so, why dosnt this extend to a person with a shirt promoting a major political party?

Businesses can choose who they create business deals with. But businesses choosing who their customers are opens the doors to all kinds of abuses.

ADLS:

20 Aug 2014 6:59:58pm

Imagine this article was written 40 years ago, and replace "North Korea" with "Communist China". Doubt anyone would think it's a sensible approach.

Disengagement and international ostracism of North Korea has achieved absolutely nothing in the past few decades. Since the death of Kim Il-Sung there have been many people (including politicians and journalists) absolutely convinced the country is about to implode at any moment. Still waiting on that. No matter how stubborn they are, engagement and diplomacy have a much greater chance of effectuating change in the region.

ScottBE:

20 Aug 2014 7:08:28pm

While I heartily agree with your argument Michael, we must remember that we also have major trade with China despite human rights atrocities in Tibet and south-west China, the Israelis despite their horrendous human rights abuses against Palestine and even America has issues as seen lately.

We too have committed horrendous human rights violations. These are more marked in recent months. Our aboriginal people have complained to the UN about the Intervention and other matters of profound neglect as well as our preference for imprisoning aboriginal people.

We are no innocents. Yet the case has been strongly made that trade engages other nations and so opens the opportunity to help such nations moderate. A very long slow process but nevertheless the argument remains sound.

Ethical dilemmas such as this are fraught with difficulties.

Consequently I do not hold a firm view on this matter, although it is frequently on my mind. Your case is good and sound Michael but needs to find more balance.

James Murphy:

21 Aug 2014 12:31:40am

Yet another person who cant hide their political bias and hatred of the US. Given the vast array of 'government (or equivalent) sanctioned' human rights abuse in the world, you've been astoundingly selective...

What about the section of the indigenous community which welcomed the intervention? Ignore them perhaps?

OUB :

20 Aug 2014 7:45:48pm

Hmm. EHG Corporation. Is that the same financial behemoth that was suspended from trading on the ASX in 2008 and has been struggling to raise funds to get relisted ever since? Yes Louis Schurmann must be making a fortune out of EHG. Let's punish EHG.

If it is any consolation to you Michael if the North Korean reserves of rare earth minerals are large and of high quality their exploitation would likely quickly destroy the balance of supply and demand for those minerals leading to a plunge in prices.

I detest the lunatic fringe that is Kim Jong Un's haircut, the man himself and his entire regime as much as the next man. But what is your proposal? Exile? Gaol for the people looking at the feasibility of the project? Why blame Abbott for this situation? It just makes you look like a tawdry politician bent on using any cheap debating point that comes to hand. Not quite down to Mr Palmer's level but you're down on one knee.

I feel for the North Koreans but the remedy is in the hands of their people and their army. Any hamfisted intervention by outsiders is much more likely than not to unite people and army behind despot. How many North Korean lives would you be prepared to sacrifice to save them? How many South Korean lives would you be prepared to see sacrificed when the lunatic and his cohort destroy dams and lob missiles at them? How many Australian lives?

Ultimately the poor buggers are on their own as far as I can see. Oh, and they've got you of course. Adjust your helmet, fix bayonets, that's right, off you go. We're right behind you.

FlapDoodle:

20 Aug 2014 7:58:07pm

Our present Government is interested in human rights only in so far as they involve the black hats of its simplistic value system. China has had its own Kent State University moment on a larger scale in Tiananmen Square. This blind spot informs its views on human rights clauses required in EU treaties/agreements - the mere fact that someone is prepared to be up front on such issues is of considerable concern to our politicians.

Stephen S:

20 Aug 2014 8:02:31pm

How about we clean up our own dirty backyard to start with? Secondly, what has North Korea done to Australia? Please cut the crap about "Human Rights", this government and the last have been stripping Human Rights away from the Australian people at a very rapid pace themselves, and there is more to come as yet, such as increased survellence and data collection, High Court ruling to prevent media release of certain information that is derogatory toward government, and the reserve bank! Under Human Rights Legislation, we are entitled to our privacy, yet that hasn't stopped this government from implementing US Foreign Policy duplication (which includes corruption of the High Court), which is the same reason the editor wishes to garner support from the Australian people over the "claimed" abuse of Human Rights "supposedly" taking place in North Korea! Where is the evidence? I'm afraid that photos and words are simply not enough on their own, and in this day and age, need to verfied independently, such is the corruption and propaganda being spread, ABC included! Journalism in this country is being threatend by our government, Edward Snowden has been FORCED into seeking safety for life in russia, Mr Assange has been FORCED into seeking safety for life in an Foreign Embassy, all for releasing the TRUTH! And our government has supported driving both these "Human Right Advocates" into hiding. So please, cut the crap about North Koreas Human Rights abuses. There simply is NO evidence, and it is NONE of our business to start with! Clean up your own dirty backyard!

Ravensclaw:

20 Aug 2014 9:36:36pm

North Korea defaulted on its debts in the late 80's and has shown no remorse. Why would anyone in their right mind invest there. International Trade Fairs in North Korea are always very poorly attended.

North Korea believes in this "self reliance" philosophy yet even during an average year has to ration its food.

If North Korea's borders were pulled down, most of its young citizens would leave. Foreign films and shows are regularly smuggled into North Korea now, and the truth is slowly coming in.

North Korea's human rights record is worse than most despotic African countries, and among the worst in the world.

The North Korean economy is not self sustaining, and the party elite knows it. They will kill (starve) millions of their own people to stay in power. The proof is the fact that they have already done just that.

North Korea is one of last relic examples of the Command Economy i.e. the economic structure behind socialism. This system of government has been a failure in every case, and every nation that has experienced the command economy has a badly tarnished human rights record.

The North Korean govt never had any legitimacy. They had power handed to them by Stalin after exterminating all opposition. The party elite are nothing more than a slavers cartel.

The Abbott govt has already rejected a North Korean delegation wanting to re-establish their embassy in Canberra. I doubt Abbott wants anything to do with North Korea. However what individuals do is there own business.

But if we are going to have a dig at miners venturing into North Korea, we should remember that those who travel on one of the North Korea tours fund the regime too.

Dove:

21 Aug 2014 10:00:18am

China and Japan will eventually relocate factories to North Korea for the cheap labour....and rehabilitation will follow, much in the same way as the west is turning a blind eye to Burma for the same economic gains. ROI is amoral

Filz:

21 Aug 2014 1:15:48pm

Sorry Dove, but I disagree.

Japan - at least in the short term - is unlikely to move any of its manufacturing or electronics industries to North Korea, simply because of China. Recall the spat going on over small island ownerships in the South China Sea? If it escalates too much, it may even lead to a localised war. (I don't think the USA will come to Japan or Taiwan's aid in the event of a localised war. They would be too scared of escalation).

Japan and China are particularly edgy at present and Japan's fighter pilots get their aircraft scrambled daily to intercept Chinese overflights.

I would be more concerned about a North Korean missile test going "wrong" and hitting either Japan or some other country and the resultant backlash.

Tony T:

21 Aug 2014 12:07:28am

A few years ago I was in China working for my Australian company. During a week holiday I made my way down to Dandong which is on the border of North Korea. I was hoping to get a look across the river at North Korea with a bit of luck as I had read thousands of times in the Western media about what a terrible regime it was and how the Government locked people in and others out. To my suirprise when I got to Dandong the place had dozens of travel agents selling trips and holidays to North Korea. I asked at one of the travel agents if there was any chance of me going into North Korea expecting a firm no. The guy asked if I had my passport and I said yes and he said it will take 10 minutes to get the visa. So 10 minutes later I had my visa and caught one of the local buses straight over the bridge straight into North Korea. Once there I expected to see poverty, military, and starving people. But instead im confronted with a theme park to rival Disney Land. I spent the day at the park and had a great time. I checked into a hotel that night and next to my surprise is they have the intetnet. I logged straight into Google. The next morning I got a taxi to Pyongyang, the Capitol of North Korea. Here I found Shopping centres, Casinos, Restaurents, Night Clubs, Cinemas, and basically the exact thing you would see in Australia. The only difference was I never saw a survellience camera in the whole time I was there. These days I no longer believe a single thing I read in the news.

Tony T:

21 Aug 2014 1:27:14pm

@Ravensclaw...and let me guess, you have never step foot inside North Korea, but you are an expert!

For if you had ever been in the country you would know that it has a massive casino industry catering to foreign tourists, mostly Russian.And I went anywhere I wanted and no-one cared....unlike walking around a major city in Australia and having survelliance cameras monitor your every move!

rankmore3:

21 Aug 2014 8:05:10am

Yes, the situation in DPRK is less than perfect, but you have to wonder why the western media behaves the way it does. Many are prepared to lap it up, as illustrated by many of the comments here. Sure, the irony is amusing, but is at the same time quite frightening.

jasper:

21 Aug 2014 12:59:19am

You only have to look at Australia's lack of concern over Israeli treatment of Palestinian to see our hypocrisy over human rights.We condemn Muslim extremists beheading people but then say nothing as we watch both US and Israeli bombs tear innocent people to pieces.One act is NOT more "barbaric" than the other.But the bombings have been going on for decades and butchered thousands, while beheadings result in far fewer deaths.I know that I'd much rather die with the dignity of facing my executioner, rather than having a coward kill me, and most likely my family, with a bomb or missile.Australia needs to grow a pair and not just pretend bombing from a great height is somehow "humane".

Ravensclaw:

Arthur J:

21 Aug 2014 9:08:48am

"Stop breaking ceasefires and using human shields" REALLY! What cease fire is this? the one that let Israel occupy even more of Palestine? The one that allowed Israel to occupy and expand its 'territory". The ceasefire made to get Israel to abide by any single one of the UN resolutions against it? The one against the Israeli "casualty" figures which now include invading soldiers to bulk the numbers up a little so it doesn't quite look like the absolute massacre it is. The ceasefire to allow for elections and when democratic elections didn't go the way America and Israel planned the cease fire ended. etc etc. As for human shields, when people live in a small area that is an enforced ghetto it is a difficult not to defend your self without people being around you. Oh and how many Israeli checkpoints are there in the other side of Palestine. Yes you must bow down to your invader.Oh this is about North Korea. yes let's find another enemy. Takes our minds of the massacres elsewhere. How many children have been killed in American drone attacks in the last 2 years? Well we don't know because the media won't report it. Yes let's find a new enemy.

al:

Oaktree:

21 Aug 2014 8:34:13am

I don't believe this is the only instance of trade with a "brutal and oppressive regime", nor that business feels it has to toe a moral line where money is to be made. Few countries can hold the moral high ground in this regard. I naturally disapprove of the brutality which exists in so many countries, (including our own in relation to border protection), but where trade is concerned it does at least open up some dialogue, and hopefully, provides employment for the people. Maybe it provides an example towards free enterprise similar to China? Is it possible that trading opens borders and in the long-run might be beneficial for more than just the Government in North Korea?

Alan:

Pick a year, a century perhaps and find a time when mans inhumanity to itself is not on display.

The biggest issue today is that we all know about it and still cannot, not won't, do amything about it.

Again folk think that by being part of the UN, being on the SC or having a leading voice on one of the committies makes a loud voice for the rest of the world to listen to and perhaps take heed of!

When you have people of differeing relgions, politics, gene's and so on there will be differing opinions and ideas about what is mine and yours.

The solution is to first recognise that each country, tribe, sect and group can have their own view on what is right and can as is their right impose it on the population that they rule, having accepted that we can only seek to change their views by persuasion and not by judging them by some psuedo christian ethic.

Iggy:

21 Aug 2014 9:20:59am

So Michael Danby talks about North Korea and yet again numerous bloggers resume their rants against the US, Israel, Australia, the West.There have been and will be inconsistencies, hypocrisies in Western foreign policy.If that is the only narrative you will obsess over then it seems impossible for you to offer any constructive analysis of one of the worst regimes in history.There is a propensity to take the moral equivalent argument to extreme levels.

Iggy:

21 Aug 2014 9:27:39am

"for real, a private CITIZEN (Ted Turner) once paid the amount owing as they newly installed Bush Regime was too busy plotting how to steal Iraq's oil to give a damn"Mokka what has this got to do with North Korea? I think you will also find that the Chinese have been one of the biggest investors in the Iraqi oil industry since the war... so Bush stuffed that as well and the US did not manage to steal ALL of the oilfields.... but if it suits your narrative....Meanwhile back to North Korea and the plight of millions of desperate people...

Peter Schmidt:

21 Aug 2014 9:55:34am

I wonder how would we react if Russia was started bombing its newly annexed, occupied territory, Crimea (although it is 85% ethnic Russian who voted to join Russia). We would be up in arms, especially if they wanted freedom from Russia, we would even send Nuland and McCain there to hand out cookies (just they did in Ukraine). Yet we find it perfectly 'normal' the segregation, humiliation and bombings of Palestinians.

blax5:

21 Aug 2014 11:07:47am

'... provide billions of dollars to the North Korean leadership....' Should that not read Yuan or Rubles? I don't think North Korea can sell it on the world markets, but to their neighbours they can, unless we bomb them. But wouldn't we run out of missiles when rare earths are again rationed?

I am not sure what can be done to change things in North Korea. The area was awarded to Stalin/the Soviet communists in the Yalta conference for their participation in WWII. Yalta has not been set aside, or has it?

Less hostility against China might generate some cooperation, but the West is not ready for that.

Iraq is not really the subject of this article, only as a lesson that you cannot graft another system on a country, however desirable that may be. In our private lives we need to accept bad situations sometimes, maybe this is true in the international landscape, too, and nothing lasts forever, not the good times, not the bad times.

Breach of peace:

21 Aug 2014 3:32:32pm

Well that was clever in the first sentence human rights jumped to economics straight away! Communist North Korea has had some dreadful and ungodly treatment of its citizens there is no doubt about that historically. I do understand and appreciate the hypothesis of work and economy, however the system must change otherwise the corruption will be compounded under a Communist or Stalinist regime. Just look at the corruption of the capitalist free market and all of the corruption with a free reign after dismantling the the healthy regulations in the market place and stock markets. We are already seeing this REDISTRIBUTION taking place and Australia is not gaining from it. Australia has been an embarrassment in the Security Council thus far despite all the hype!

Regardless of its atrocities Australia has no business spending huge amounts of money, when right here in Australia we have 1 in 10 in poverty! There should be no excuse whatsoever of this except we have been wasting money giving aid overseas. Our health system needs to be improved in the area of dental and preventative instead of drug medicine. Our education of Australian citizens is getting out of reach for many and many are illiterate. Many are homeless in a country that touts "Fair go." We have been entangled in these US false flag foreign wars wasting billions of dollars at the expense of our national sovereignty and our independence is being white-anted from privatisation and globalisation by dismantling Australia's manufacturing sector. Many will never be able to afford a house or unit because of the excessive high prices for youth trying to get into the market.

GrumpiSkeptic:

21 Aug 2014 3:44:15pm

Yes indeed, we all are concerned about the human rights issues in North Korean. What Justice Michael Kirby did was admirable, so are Michael Danby's endless efforts in spreading the goodness of democracy and human rights.

Would the two distinguished gentlemen cast their net just a little bit wider, and include Israel too ?

robb:

21 Aug 2014 5:00:02pm

Get onto your super fund and ask if they trade in the shares of those companies and tell them you will put your funds elsewhere if they do and continue to do so... thats how you can make money talk for you .. if enough fund members do so, then they will take note.